Pulling It Back Together

A moment of peace.

Domestically:
The house is clean, the laundry done, I know what's for dinner and the girls are busy with their homework.

Business-wise:
I had an awesome shoot yesterday with a very happy client, I have two shoots coming up at the end of this week and even more throughout February lined up (hurray!).  I am headed in a good direction with a plan.

Personally:
I feel rested and calm.  I guess I needed ALL of January to recuperate from the holidays--who knew!?

At any rate, I feel like I can say "here we go" again and this time mean it.

Oh!  PS the pic above is our new bedroom, we switched rooms with our girls and gave them the big room.  This is a quick shot I took while in the middle of putting everything back together....you can even see the hammer that I was using.  We are loving it, it's so cozy, I sleep like a rock.  As soon as I am all done with the finishing touches, I will share more pics with you.

Happy Tuesday!

Losing Focus?

Before the first of the year I was on fire....working hard and getting a lot done.  I employed my timer method, which is 15 minutes on the computer and 15 minutes off to get work done around the house or whatever else you have to do, back and forth, it works really well, and saves your back from sitting in a chair for too long. 

But, at the moment I am incredibly distracted by Facebook and Pinterest (which is so crazy fun!).  

Oh and don't forget Instagram (love) and Twitter.  Social media over kill. 

As much as I love it all, I do think it's important to actually call up a friend and go out somewhere and meet them for coffee and have a REAL conversation, in the real world, and turn off the phone.....after I Instagram a pic of my coffee and brownie to Twitter and Facebook of course.  Hahaha!

Anyhoo, I have to get back on track.  I will pull out my timer and my "Action Day Planner" for 2012 which has barely a chicken scratch on it--shameful--and get back to work.  Work is good, it is satisfying, it occupies your mind and your hands and, if it is something you love to do, your soul.  

So, I am about to get focused up in here.  Watch out!

Sometimes, however, losing focus is good.  

I found this pic while looking for something else, from an old file last summer. 

It distracted me but in a good way.

          The two of them, break my heart, with their sweet little faces, and silly short hair cuts.

Ok, back to work. 

 Leave me a comment and let me know what you do to stay on track, I really want to hear.

Happy hump day.

Saturday Soccer--In B & W

Just for fun.  

Black and white pics from last Saturday's soccer jaunt.  

It was kids against grown-ups and let me just say the grown-ups were ruthless!  

But the kids were very enthusiastic!

Here they are, in no particular order.

 (look at Piper's face in this next one....happiness)

My Piper lookin' good.

The little ones practiced a bit too.

Love it.

And, seriously, who's cute?!

That's a lot of pics, thanks for hanging in there.  

Not sure what we are doing this next Saturday but if the crazy LA weather keeps going like this maybe we will hit the beach!

Have a great weekend--let me know what you're up to.

Flower Friday--In The Sun

A look back.

I took this pic a few years ago.  

One of the first flower pics I took that I really liked.   

I remember feeling proud of it.  

But not showing anyone.

Well, here it is, dammit!

It looks like a proud flower, no?

Enjoy your weekend, in the sun (here) or in the snow (my hometown).

I'm feeling nostalgic today and a bit at a loss for words.

Happy Friday!

  

Refer Back To # 623

# 623---"When you realize you have made a mistake, take immediate steps to fix it."

My hubs is very upset because he said that part of my last post was very misleading.....the part about the husband dancing with the wife.......or something like that.  Yikes.  

So I am here to clarify, because,well, because my husband rocks.  And dances, a lot.  With me and with the girls and the cats and the dog and whoever else happens to drop by.

In fact, it is a Disco Dance Party USA around here most nights, just ask our neighbors.

The really funny part about this mistake is he went and signed us up for Tango lessons--8 weeks worth.

Hurray?

Caught My Eye

I had another post planned for the day but then this caught my eye.  

It is a book, "The Complete, LIFE'S LITTLE INSTRUCTION BOOK".

It belongs to Piper and she carries it around with her, her grandfather gave it to her for her 3rd or 4th birthday, I can't remember, I have never really had a look.

 Anyway, it fell open to this page and it caught my eye.

# 623  Because it's the right thing to do and gets it off your chest.

# 624  Because it's how our ancestors did it and things have gotten out-o-hand.......note to self.

# 625 I thought of this when I got off the phone today when I was definitely NOT smiling.  I should have been, it would have made everything a bit easier.

# 626 Yes, I feel comfortable.

# 627 Do my kids count as employees?

# 628 He never does and that works.

# 629 I try to make sure my girls find a balance between duty and their desires.

Now, the last four I am not totally on board with.

# 630 I like to experience music I wouldn't usually listen to.......it's opens up new creative venues.

# 631 Dude?  A microwave?  Throw it out.

# 632 I am trying NOT to set aside my dreams, I want to inspire my girls with the passion that I have to pursue my dreams.

#633 Don't ever play down to make someone else feel better.  Be you, be strong, be beautiful.
(There is a quote by someone famous that is evading me here...do you know what it is?)

I would love to hear your thoughts on this post. 

Have a fabulous day.  Do something nice for yourself and for someone else.

xoxo

Flower Friday--Four Seasons

I am so excited for the new year.  

I had a blast last year and learned so much and did so much more than I thought I could.  

I learned a lot about myself and how I want to live and be and love. 

 I made goals and met most of them. (Hurray for me.) 

 I have resisted, so far, to write down any new goals for 2012.

But they are there, in my head, stirring around and will manifest themselves very soon.  

I love New Years resolutions and I enjoy the holidays for the kids and for friends but mostly I love the holiday in every day and I love the opportunity to start fresh every day or every moment, to make a new resolution whenever I want to.  

So there.

Let's see what happens.

And Here We Go!

Hi!  We had a really nice holiday season and winter break.  Everyone here now is back to work and back to school and the house is quiet again.  I am starting to come down from the constant buzz I have had for the past month.  I know I am a little behind, but I still want to share a few pics from Christmas because I love these, they are my favs from the day.

Piper is really into spying at the moment....she says she wants to be a writer when she grows up and so she has to spy on everyone to get juicy material to write about......she really got hooked up with some LOL spy gear, including a trench coat, hat and a slew of mustaches!  Talk about a good disguise.

She also wanted a real typewriter for the writing part.....how cool is that?!

This is not our dog.  Our dog is afraid of cameras.  Say wha'?

But he sure is cute and sweet.

The weather has been warm and sunny and fabulous but I am ready for the rain and the cold (well, if you can call it that).  I like winter to be as close to a real winter as possible, ya know?

I will be back tomorrow with a pretty flower pic or two and maybe a coupla resolutions or something.  

A belated Happy Holiday to everyone, I hope yours was swell.  

I look forward to spending a lot more time here.  With you.